“HAR KAAM DESH KE NAAM”
After 39 years of distinguished service to the country, Air Marshal Sandeep Singh PVSM AVSM VM ADC demitted the office of the Vice Chief of the Air Staff (VCAS) upon his superannuation from the Indian Air Force (IAF) on January 31, 2023.
He was given a formal Guard of Honor upon taking up the position of VCAS at Air Headquarters, and he then laid a wreath at the National War Memorial in memory of those members of the Armed Forces who had given the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
On December 22, 1983, the Air Marshal received his commission as a fighter pilot in the IAF.
He attended the National Defense College and National Defense Academy. He is a Cat ‘A’ Qualified Flying Instructor and an Experimental Test Pilot. He has almost 4900 hours of operational and test flying experience across a variety of aircraft, including the Su-30 MKI, MiG-29, MiG-21, Kiran, AN-32, AVRO, Jaguar, and Mirage 2000. He was crucial in the introduction, manufacture, and armament of the Su-30 MKI aircraft in India.
Throughout his career, he held a number of significant field positions, such as Project Test Pilot of the Su-30 Project Team at Moscow, Commanding Officer of a frontline Su-30MKI Sqn, Chief Test Pilot at ASTE, Commander of two Flying Bases, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Plans), Commandant ASTE, and Senior Air Staff Officer of Eastern Air Command and Deputy Chief of the Air Staff.
Prior to becoming the VCAS, he served as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of South Western Air Command.
The Air Marshal received the Vayu Sena Medal in 2006, the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal in 2013, and the Param Vishisht Sewa Medal in 2022 as recognition for his extraordinarily high-calibre meritorious contributions. On September 30, 2021, he was appointed as the President of India’s honorary Air ADC.
